The way to treat government officials according to Imam Ali (AS)

SHAFAQNA – Regarding the treatment of government officials, Imam Ali (AS) wrote to Malik Ashtar: Probe into the behaviour of officials, and appoint truthful and faithful (secret) agents to supervise and inspect them covertly on your behalf, in order to make sure this will result in them being trustworthy and kind to people. And be very careful about your close colleagues, and if one of them betrayed the trust, and the reports of your agents confirmed it, this will be enough for him to be punished by lashing, and take back goods/assets which he took unlawfully, and then demote him, and consider him as disloyal. I heard many times from the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) who said: A nation which cannot take back the rights of weaker people from powerful ones without any anxiety or excuse will not be saved [1].